Is the current emergency system too slow?
You probably don’t want to be reading this if you are on a sinking ship or lost in the woods but current emergency beacons can take up to an hour before search and rescue is alerted to your crisis and provided with your location details.
Hopefully your situation is not so life threatening that you can’t comfortably wait an hour before being rescued. However, there are times where minutes can mean the difference between life and death. Here are a few scenarios* where you want to be rescued in a hurry:
With a lot of different options, different makes and models, it can be confusing for the average GPS shopper. How do I know what’s right for me? How can I make sure I don’t pay too much or get a GPS system that is difficult to use or doesn’t do what I need it to do?
When faced with the job of purchasing a GPS system, most people would turn to Google. But what starts as a simple Google search to find the right GPS system can quickly become a nightmarish exercise in wading through pages of detail, reviews, product specifications and technical jargon.
How can you simplify the process of finding the right GPS system?
Here are 5 simple steps to finding the right device.
Map layers - Bringing maps into the 21st century
For people who think a GPS device is really just an on-screen map, then they may not know about map layers, the secret to making GPS systems highly functional and useful to a huge range of industries and professions.
When you think of a paper map, you imagine a two-dimensional map that offers basic road or topographic information. A paper map is static, never changing and can quickly become outdated, not to mention difficult to fold.
In contrast, a GPS device uses electronic maps as the basis for its location services. Electronic maps are regularly updated and delivered to a user via a website (e.g. Google Maps) or a mobile device (e.g. TomTom, Garmin etc.). Electronic maps are flexible, allowing users to zoom in or out to automatically change the scale and detail of the map. Because they are delivered electronically, they are portable, convenient and can be used in a huge variety of different ways – both for work and play.
Could a Taxibus system revolutionize public transport?
Technology is a powerful force in the world today, and like any power can be used for good or evil. A group of aspiring students, known as Team Phoenix, played their part in helping save the world using technology by developing a Taxibus system to promote more efficient and convenient city commuting.
Conveniently it was all part of the Imagine Cup held in France in 2008, promoted by Microsoft as an opportunity for young programmers to showcase ways technology can be used to help build sustainable environments.
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We talked a little about what is GIS (Geographic Information System) in our last post, using broad strokes to try and explain such a diverse and expanding topic. In this article I thought we could use a real-life example of a GIS to help explain further how it is used in the real world.
GIS data mapping uses a GIS to create maps showing unique, customized information in a separate layer that sits on top (overlaid) of the original map.
What is GIS?
Mar
GIS, which stands for Geographic Information System, is a huge topic, difficult to restrict to a simple or concise definition. It covers everything from a simple GPS handheld device that gives you your current location to tracking the growth of the Gobi desert. It is the science of translating geographical information into a format that can used to make informed decisions on anything from where to locate a new supermarket to finding the nearest gas station and everything in between.
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How does cell phone GPS work?
In times past if you wanted to know your exact location or get navigation assistance you needed a dedicated GPS device, like a Garmin or a TomTom. These days most cell phones have GPS receivers built-in, particularly those manufactured since February 2005.
In 2005, the FCC required that, for the purpose of locating cell phone callers in an emergency, when a cell phone user rang 911 it should automatically transmit information on the caller’s location to the PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point). Cell phone manufacturers responded to the new requirements (known as E911) by building phones with GPS receivers built-in that could provide location information, pinpointing a caller’s position to within 6 meters.
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Will China's Compass satellites interfere with Europe's Galileo GNSS?
Since 1978 when the U.S. Defense launched the first GPS satellite into what is now known as the NAVSTAR GPS constellation, it seems there are GPS satellites going into orbit on a regular basis. In fact, you wonder if there’s enough room for them all up there.
Closely following the U.S. were the Russians who launched GLONASS in 1982 with global coverage achieved by 1991. A faltering economy meant the system fell into disrepair but in recent times the Russian government has stated that they will have it fully functional by 2010, with assistance from India.
Another player in the GNSS space is China (GNSS stands for the Global Navigational Satellite System, the correct term for describing all the navigational satellite constellations in orbit; GPS only refers to the U.S. NAVSTAR constellation). China launched its first Compass satellite in April 2007 and is planning to have it operational for mainland China by 2010. It intends to have global coverage by 2020.
Last time we talked about the basics of GPS is and how it works. There are many different uses for GPS systems from farming to aviation and everything in between.
One sector that benefits heavily from GPS is ground transportation. Whether you’re getting your kids to an out-of-town soccer game or you’re moving hazardous chemicals interstate, GPS navigation systems for ground transport can make the journey faster, more economical and safer for everyone.
But there are two distinct flavors of GPS devices and your navigation needs will determine which you should choose:
- Connected - A connected GPS receiver uses its built-in connectivity (either GSM/GPRS or CDMA – GPRS is preferred and is more suitable for live tracking) to connect to a wireless provider (e.g. Sprint). This allows it to communicate information such as its location, altitude or speed to other devices or a web browser application, such as this program. An example of this is Telogis Fleet, which helps fleet owners manage multiple GPS receivers (which could be in cars, trucks, vans or even attached to people).
- Disconnected – A GPS device that is disconnected only receives signals from the free GPS satellite network, or constellation as it’s called. Information such as current location, speed, altitude and time is only available to the user of the GPS device. Unlike a connected GPS receiver it cannot send or transmit data to another device. The units are often cheaper because they do not have any built-in connectivity.
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How does GPS work?
Jan
Some interesting GPS trivia
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GPS is a complicated subject so let’s get right back to the basics of GPS; what is it and how it works. As an example in demonstrating how GPS technology is being used, we will look at how it is helping the ground transportation sector to route vehicles more efficiently.
Making an informed choice about GPS systems
If you’re looking to invest in a GPS system you don’t necessarily need to know exactly how it works, just like you don’t have to know how a car works to drive one. You just get in and shift it into drive.
But understanding how GPS works can help you to make a better decision when it comes to choosing the best GPS system. Unfortunately many people who buy GPS systems don’t know much about them. They end up making the mistake of getting something that is overkill, with features they’ll never need and a price tag to match. In some ways it’s like buying a car without knowing that the more liters a vehicle’s engine has affects its power and fuel consumption – if you didn’t need the extra power why pay for a fuel guzzler? Then again buying a Prius when you need to tow a 240-foot super-yacht could be disastrous.
In a similar way, different GPS systems work in different ways, some are better suited to specific environments, some are free, and others have ongoing charges. By understanding some of the science behind GPS and how it works you can make sure you get the best GPS navigation system for your needs, or the needs of your business.
